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Former INLA man jailed over murder of British soldier avoids prison for having stolen sunglasses
Summary
Joseph Magee, a former INLA member, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing 55 pairs of stolen "Maui Jim" sunglasses found at his Clongriffin home on April 2, 2015. Magee pleaded guilty to the charge, which he admitted, claiming he found the items in a park and intended to give them away or sell them for a small amount. Gardaí alleged he was holding the goods for a third party, though he was not charged with the underlying theft. The court heard that Magee was convicted of murder in 2004 for the 1992 killing of Sergeant Michael Newman in Derby, England, and was released under the Good Friday Agreement after serving two years. Defence counsel Dean Kelly argued that Magee's previous convictions, including earlier firearm offences, should be viewed in the context of the peace process, requesting a non-custodial disposal to allow him to retain his social housing. Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged that Magee's convictions "speak for themselves" but noted they were committed in a specific context. She determined that imprisonment would cause him to lose his home, hindering his reform efforts. Consequently, the judge imposed a two-year suspended sentence, accepting that Magee was not the final beneficiary of the stolen property.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former INLA man jailed over murder of British soldier avoids prison for having stolen sunglasses. Charges or matters: possession of 55 pairs of stolen "Maui Jim" sunglasses at his home on April 2, 2015; murder in 2004 but released under the Good Friday Agreement after serving two years, at which point he moved to Dublin. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 2, 2015 Incident
- 2016-03-10 Publication
Case subjects
Applicant
Defendant
Charges: possession of 55 pairs of stolen "Maui Jim" sunglasses at his home on April 2, 2015; murder in 2004 but released under the Good Friday Agreement after serving two years, at which point he moved to Dublin (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Melanie Greally said Magee's convictions "speak for themselves" but noted they were "committed in a certain context." She said if Magee was to be jailed he would lose his house which would hinder his efforts to reform.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Special Criminal Court
- Irish High Court
- Marsfield Avenue
- Dublin
- turned up at the garda station
Topics
Firearms Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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